Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has defended his controversial statement regarding Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following backlash from human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and leaders of the Obidient Movement. Okpebholo had suggested that Obi must obtain security clearance before visiting Edo State, a remark critics labeled as a veiled threat and a dangerous signal for democratic freedom. Falana described the statement as unlawful and urged Obi to seek legal redress, while ADC and Obidient Movement leader Dr. Yunusa Tanko condemned it as intimidation and misinformation.
In response, the Edo State government issued a statement through the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, clarifying that the comments were not intended as a threat. According to the government, the governor was only emphasizing established security protocols, which require politically exposed individuals to notify the state authorities before embarking on public engagements. The government stressed that this is a necessary measure for safeguarding both the visitors and citizens, especially in light of increasing security threats, including attacks on clergy and religious institutions in the state.
Governor Okpebholo, in his defense, further stated that public donations by high-profile figures to churches or faith-based organizations, although well intentioned, should be made discreetly and in collaboration with security agencies to avoid exposing these institutions to danger. He added, “The governor’s comments are informed by security intelligence and a sense of moral duty,” while also referencing past incidents in Anambra, claiming that Obi, as a former governor, detained Nasir El-Rufai during a 2013 visit, an allegation that has since drawn criticism and fact-checking.
Falana, however, remained resolute in his stance, accusing Okpebholo of violating Peter Obi’s constitutional right to life under Section 33 of Nigeria’s Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter. He warned that failure to retract the statement could warrant immediate legal intervention from Obi at the Federal High Court in Benin to assert his fundamental rights. Falana stressed the urgency of such action in light of the rising trend of mob violence and extrajudicial killings across the country.
Dr. Tanko, in a strong rebuttal, debunked the El-Rufai detention claim, labeling it “a lie” and asserting that Obi was not responsible. He clarified that the incident occurred during a PDP-led federal administration and insisted that El-Rufai was denied entry based on security suspicions by the ruling party at the time, not by Obi himself. As the then IPAC chairman, Tanko said he personally received El-Rufai’s complaint and still holds photographic evidence from the incident. He criticized Okpebholo’s political inexperience, saying, “It is clear the governor is new to the game and doesn’t understand the terrain, he’s just shooting blanks.”
